Cantilevered watercraft canopy

Abstract

In a cantilevered watercraft canopy, a plurality of vertical supports provides support to a plurality of horizontal supports. First and second main struts are supported by the horizontal supports. First and second pluralities of arch members are affixed at a central attachment point to the first main strut and second main strut, respectively. The outer ends of the first and second pluralities of arch members support outer struts. In the first exemplary embodiment, the inner ends of the first and second pluralities of arch members are affixed to one another, and the main struts are affixed rigidly to the horizontal supports. In the second exemplary embodiment, first and second inner struts are affixed to the inner ends of the first and second pluralities of arch members, and the main struts are affixed rotatably to the horizontal supports. A canopy cover is affixed over the arch members and struts.

I claim: 
     
       1. A structure comprising:
 (a) a canopy cover; 
 (b) said canopy cover comprising a first door flap and a second door flap, wherein said first door flap and said second door flap overlap to form a triangular overlap region; 
 (c) a horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener affixed to said first door flap and said second door flap and positioned within said triangular overlap region; and 
 (d) wherein said horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener is configured for releasably fastening said first door flap and said second door flap in a closed configuration such that said triangular overlap region is adjustable in size by translationally adjusting said horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said first door flap and said second door flap are of a shape that comprises an acute angle between a door flap edge and horizontal. 
     
     
       3. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) said canopy cover is affixed to a canopy frame; and 
 (b) said horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener provides for fault tolerance of said canopy cover against deflection of said canopy frame; 
 (c) wherein said canopy frame is cantilevered such that deflection substantially affects the fit of said canopy cover to said canopy frame; 
 (d) and wherein translationally adjusting said horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener is effective to correct the fit of said canopy cover to said canopy frame. 
 
     
     
       4. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said canopy frame is supported from a dock and cantilevered over at least two watercraft mooring areas located on at least two opposing sides of said dock. 
     
     
       5. The structure of  claim 4 , wherein said canopy frame defines a barrel vault that is positioned centrally over said dock. 
     
     
       6. The structure of  claim 4 , wherein said canopy frame defines a barrel vault that provides unobstructed enclosed access to said watercraft mooring area. 
     
     
       7. The structure of  claim 4 , wherein said dock is a floating dock. 
     
     
       8. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said canopy frame comprises one or more vertical supports inserted into one or more floating dock guide holes of said floating dock. 
     
     
       9. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said canopy frame comprises at least one outer strut and at least one arch member affixed thereto; 
 said canopy cover comprising at least one outer edge shaped with at least one notch; and 
 said canopy cover being configured to attach to said at least one strut such that said at least one notch accommodates said at least one arch member. 
 
     
     
       10. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said canopy frame lacks cross-bracing of any cantilevered element. 
     
     
       11. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said canopy frame is supported from one or more vertical supports augured into a water body bed within a watercraft mooring area. 
     
     
       12. A canopy cover, comprising:
 a first canopy top element, comprising a first canopy top element inner edge, a first canopy top element outer edge, and at least one first canopy side edge; 
 a second canopy top element, comprising a second canopy top element inner edge, a second canopy top element outer edge, and at least one second canopy side edge; 
 at least one first canopy side element, comprising a first canopy side element inner edge and first canopy side element curved top edge; 
 at least one second canopy side element, comprising a second canopy side element inner edge and a second canopy side element curved top edge; 
 said first canopy top element being affixed to said second canopy top element along said first canopy top element inner edge and said second canopy top element inner edge; 
 said at least one first canopy side element being affixed to said first canopy top element via said at least one first canopy top element side edge and said first canopy side element curved top edge; 
 said at least one second canopy side element being affixed to said second canopy top element via said at least one second canopy top element side edge and said second canopy side element curved top edge; and 
 said first canopy side element and said second canopy side element overlapping to form a triangular overlap region and being releasably affixed to one another via at least one translationally adjustable horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener strip. 
 
     
     
       13. The canopy cover of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first canopy top element outer edge and said second canopy top element outer edge comprises at least one notch and at least one canopy cover top fastener. 
     
     
       14. The canopy cover of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first canopy top element and said second canopy top element comprises a canopy inner top element, wherein said canopy inner top element occupies a region along at least one of said first canopy top element inner edge and said second canopy top element inner edge. 
     
     
       15. The canopy cover of  claim 14 , wherein said canopy inner top element is made of a transparent mesh material. 
     
     
       16. A structure, comprising:
 a canopy cover affixed to a canopy frame; 
 said canopy frame being cantilevered over a watercraft mooring area; 
 said canopy frame defining a barrel vault; 
 said canopy cover comprising a door flap positioned the end of said barrel vault. 
 
     
     
       17. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said door flap provides enclosed and unobstructed access to said watercraft mooring area. 
     
     
       18. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said door flap is unobstructed by any cross bracing of any cantilevered element. 
     
     
       19. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said door flap is formed of two overlapping elements of one or more canopy cover side elements that are releasably affixed via a translationally adjustable and horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener strip. 
     
     
       20. The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said door flap provides fault tolerance against deflection of said canopy frame, wherein deflection substantially affects the fit of said canopy cover to said canopy frame, and wherein translationally adjusting said horizontally oriented hook and loop fastener is effective to correct the fit of said canopy cover to said canopy frame.